Retro Queens Park Rangers Shirt – Hoops, Heroes & Loftus Road

Queens Park Rangers were founded in 1882 through the merger of Christchurch Rangers and St Jude's Institute, initially based in the Queen's Park area of North West London before settling in Shepherd's Bush. The early decades saw the club bounce between amateur and professional football, but QPR steadily built a reputation as one of London's most competitive sides.

The 1960s brought genuine glory. Under Alec Stock, QPR won the League Cup in 1967, becoming the first third-division side ever to lift the trophy at Wembley, defeating West Bromwich Albion 3-2 in a famous final. That same season they won the Third Division title, launching one of the most rapid ascents in the club's history. By 1968 they had reached the First Division for the first time.

The mid-1970s represent QPR's true golden era. Under manager Dave Sexton, with Gordon Hill and Stan Bowles pulling the strings, Rangers finished as First Division runners-up in 1975-76, coming agonisingly close to the title – pipped only by Liverpool on the final day of the season. That near-miss remains one of the greatest 'what ifs' in QPR folklore.

The 1980s brought financial turbulence and a unique chapter: under chairman Jim Gregory and later David Bulstrode, QPR installed the infamous plastic pitch at Loftus Road in 1981, the first artificial surface in the Football League. It divided opinion fiercely, but it also made Loftus Road a nightmare venue for visiting sides.

Relegation and promotion became recurring themes through the 1990s and 2000s, but QPR returned to the Premier League in 2011 under Neil Warnock, backed by the substantial investment of new owner Tony Fernandes. Their top-flight campaign brought exciting if turbulent football and an unforgettable final-day survival battle at Manchester City in 2012 – Joey Barton's red card, Djibril Cissé's goal, and the drama of Paddy Kenny's heroics are burned into QPR history.

Relegation followed in 2013, and despite a brief return to the Premier League in 2014-15, QPR have remained in the Championship, retaining their status as one of England's most storied and supported second-tier clubs.

Queens Park Rangers have been home to some genuinely iconic talents over the decades. Perhaps the most beloved of all was Stan Bowles, the mercurial, gambling-addicted genius of the 1970s who terrorised First Division defences with his trickery, vision, and outrageous skill. Bowles was the heartbeat of the great Sexton side and remains the fans' all-time favourite to this day.

Rodney Marsh was another crowd idol from an earlier era – flamboyant, arrogant in the best possible sense, and capable of moments of breathtaking brilliance. His move to Manchester City in 1972 is said to have disrupted City's title challenge, such was his disruptive genius.

Gerry Francis captained the near-championship team of 1975-76 and was widely considered the best English midfielder of his generation. His leadership and quality epitomised everything about that golden QPR squad.

In goal, Phil Parkes was outstanding throughout the 1970s before his big-money move to West Ham, while Les Ferdinand became one of the Premier League's most feared strikers during his time at Loftus Road in the early 1990s, earning a move to Newcastle United and England recognition.

Darren Peacock, Andy Impey, and Ray Wilkins all made significant contributions across different eras. More recently, Adel Taarabt dazzled during the 2010-11 Championship-winning season with a string of breathtaking performances, while Charlie Austin's prolific goalscoring in the Championship underlined QPR's ability to develop and attract serious talent.

Managers who shaped the club include the visionary Dave Sexton, the no-nonsense Jim Smith, and the ebullient Gerry Francis who returned as manager with considerable success in the 1990s.

The Queens Park Rangers retro shirt is one of the most iconic designs in English football, defined by those bold blue and white hoops that have been the club's signature since the late 19th century. The hoops have varied in width and shade across the decades, making each era subtly distinct and highly collectable.

The 1970s kits are the most sought-after among serious collectors – simple, unsponsored, and worn by the likes of Bowles and Francis during QPR's finest footballing hours. The clean hooped design with minimal embellishment captures the spirit of that golden era perfectly.

The 1980s introduced shirt sponsorship, with Guinness and later other brands appearing across the famous hoops. The plastic-pitch era kits have a certain retro charm, with slightly baggier cuts and brighter colour contrasts typical of the decade.

The 1990s brought increasingly adventurous designs, including some away kits in claret and blue that nodded to QPR's lesser-known colour history. The Gerry Francis era home shirts remain popular with fans who remember the club's consistent top-flight performances.

The early 2000s and the Premier League return years of 2011-13 produced some memorable hooped designs that are already gaining collector status. Away kits from these seasons – particularly yellow and navy options – are increasingly sought after. With 86 retro Queens Park Rangers shirts available in our shop, there is something for every era and every budget.